The Happy Scientist

Kaden went to a Birthday Party last week.  It was his first Birthday Party ever to go to, so it was exciting for all of us.  The Birthday Person was having a "Mad Scientist" Party", complete with a "Mad Scientist"!!  Kaden was a definite No from the moment he found out.  He handed the invitation back to the kiddo and said no thanks.  Thankfully the Birthday Kiddo is in Kaden's social skills class so the Mom didn't give much thought about Kaden's refusal.

Cool thing about the party was the fact that they were having it at the center.  YAY!!!  That meant there would be helpers to get all the kiddos through the party.
On the day of the party Kaden still didn't want to go.  Everyone had explained to him that "Mad" didn't mean that he was angry and wanted to hurt him.  We ended up being 30 minuted late, because we literally had to drag him into the van and across the parking lot once we got there.

When we opened the door the lights were out and the "Mad Scientist" had flames coming from one hand and the smell of burnt hair filled the room.  This was not a good 1st impression.  Zooooooom, there went Kaden!!!!  Thankfully the staff was ready and he was safe, just scared.   Kaden kept asking why they can't be called the Happy Scientist.  That he would like that more. :)

After a nice, comforting conversation and the help of a Staff sidekick we got him in the room to enjoy the last half hour or so.  He was able to answer a few questions correctly about electricity and lightning.  And then he saw how fireworks were made and at the end he was able to make glow in the dark slime.

The important thing was he was smiling by the end of the party.  I was proud of him for trying so hard.  I know some people might think, come on it's a party for gosh sakes.  He is 6 years old, cut the cord!!!  But, the difference is the look of fear in his eyes is real, imagine being sent to a huge volcano to plunge into or being trapped in a burning building.  It is a true fear for him to be in social situations.  The noisy, smells, activity, even just the thoughts of a social environment becomes so overwhelming.  It will take time, but he is one step closer. 




I remember when he was almost 5 and we went to this amazing event at a local church.  They had turned it into Bethlehem.  Kaden was so overwhelmed by the music, amount of people and all the different pictures and scenery that he had a full on breakdown.  It was tragic the way he was shaking and rocked his head back and forth while screaming so loud with his hands over his ears.  It was like he was on fire, he looked terrified.  When he wasn't screaming he was calling out numbers and hitting himself.  It took all we had to get out as fast as possible.  This was before we knew a diagnosis.  This was when people said, he's just a boy, he'll grow out of it.  He looks normal to me!!!!  Well, after all we have been through as a Family....I agree!!  He is normal, maybe not "Your Normal".  Or what the World thinks is "Normal".  But I wouldn't change this little guy for all the money in the World!!!!